Magnetic tool holder



1963 E. J. GANTZ 3,100,275

MAGNETIC TOOL HOLDER Filed Dec. 8, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

E MMETT I GANTZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,100,275 MAGNETIC TOOLHULDER Emmett .l. Gantz, 1007 S. 14th St, Burlington, Iowa Filed Dec. 8,1961, Ser. No. 157,928 3 Claims. (Cl. 317-459) This invention relates toa magnetic holder which, while of general purpose, also has specialadaptations. Magnetic holders have been proposed from early times, butfor the most part these have consisted of simple bar or horseshoemagnets presenting little or no advance in function overthe well-knownproperty of magnets of attracting and holding.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a magneticholder of functional form adapted to a variety of objects and tasks.More particularly it is an object to provide a magnetic holder speciallyadapted to hold a class of tools and accessories in common use amongmechanics, and especially in connection with vehicles. In still greaterparticular, it is an object to provide a holder for such items aswrenches and like tools, flashlights, and mirrors.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by thepresent invention, which may be briefly described as comprising a set ofcooperating magnetic elements including a 'block sectioned frompolygonal stock and having an axial bore, and a slab having a pivot formounting in said bore, with the slab in radial relation to the block,both the slab and the polygonal faces of the block having a centralgroove or channel, and the slab having an angularly disposed endsection.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made tothe following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the block and radialslab,

FIGURE 2. is a sectional view, through the slab, taken on the line 2-2of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, on reduced scale, of the parts of FIGURE1, with the slab mounted radially of the spool, and supporting aflashlight,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of FIGURE 3 turnedthrough 90, and with a mirror substituted for the flashlight,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, on still further reduced scale, showingthe block attached to a vehicle fender, and holding a flashlight, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on about the scale of FIGURE 3, showingthe slab holding a wrench, nut, screw and washer, the objects held beingindicated in broken lines.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown, inFIGURE 1, a prismoidal block 10, and a slab 12, both strongly magnetic,which may be used separately or in conjunction. The block is cut fromlengths of stock of polygonal section, and in the case shown the blockhas an axial bore 18, and the side faces 14 have central grooves orchannels 20' which communicarte at the corners of the side faces of theblock.

The slab 1:2 is formed from a length of flat stock, of oblong,rectangular cross section, and has a central groove or channel 22throughout its length leaving marginal strips 23. The slab has a bentsection 24 at one end, and at the other end has a corner notch definedby a shoulder 26, extending from one edge of the slab, and throughgroove 22 to its opposite side. The remaining portion 27 of the slabmargin 23, in the form of a leg extending beyond shoulder 26, carries apivot pin 28, adapted for insertion in axial bore 18 in the block.

One mode of use is illustrated in FIGURE 3, wherein one of the face-s 14of the block is magnetically attached to a surface 30 of magneticallycompatible material, the pin 28 of the slab is inserted in the bore 18of the block, and the leg 27 is magnetically engaged with a face 16 ofthe block, with the slab 12 positioned for proper orientation of aflashlight 32, magnetically held in the groove in the bent section 24 ofthe slab. While the location of shoulder 26 of the slab may be such asto clear the corners of the block, it is also possible to locate theshoulder for interception by the corners, which thus provide extraholding power for arrangements such as shown in FIGURE 3. However, incases where the axis of bore 18 is vertical, such as shown in FIGURE 4,wherein gravity is not acting to turn the slab, greater range ofadjustment results if the shoulder of the slab is not interrupted by thecorners of the block. In FIGURE 4, one face 14 of the block is inengagement with a vertical surface 34, which may be part of a vehicle,machine tool, or other structure. This is one arrangement wherein theholder is intended to extend the vision of a worker into places whichare out of the line of normal sight, and, as shown, the bore of theblock is vertical, with the thickness dimension of the slab,consequently, also vertical, and a mirror 36, with metallic frame 33 ismagnetically adhered to the bent end 24 of the slab. With thisatrangement, the worker may insert tools into regions of limited anddevious access, and in this operation has visual guidance through themirror 36.

In FIGURE 5 the block is shown mounted on the side of a car fender 40,and one of the polygonal faces of the block is utilized to hold theflashlight 24 at a suitable angle for illuminating the hub region of awheel 42 of the vehicle.

In FIGURE 6, the slab alone is shown as mounted on a surface 44,convenient to a scene of operations, and shown in dotted lines are avariety of work implements adhered thereto, including a wrench, a nut, ascrew and a washer, which are representative.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a magnetic holderwhich is adapted to a variety of uses and environments, Whilemaintaining all of the useful features of the conventional, simple, baror horseshoe magnet. In particular, the block component has a pluralityof faces which can be used selectively, for attaching the block itself,and at the same time holding an implement in selective positions oforientation, and in a variety of planes. Also the groove in bothcomponents is specially adapted for round-bodied objects such asflashlights, and the bent end of the slab provides a further degree ofselective orientation of an implement. In addition to the foregoingfeatures, the pivotal arragement of the slab on the axis of the blockfurther extends the range of adjustment, and the shoulder feature on theslab may be employed to advantage in cooperation with the cornersbetween the block faces.

Generally speaking, whereas a certain, preferred embodiment has beenshown and described, various modifications will become apparent, in thelight of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, bedeemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A magnetic, holding device comprising a block of magnetic materialhaving parallel end faces, and a polygonal cross section with side facesperpendicular to said end faces, said side faces having communicatingcentral grooves, and said block having a central bore, perpendicular tosaid end faces, and an elongate, flat slab of magnetic material, havingan oblong, generally rectangular cross section and having a sectionadjacent one end bent away from the plane of the slab, said slab havingcentral, longitudinally disposed channels in its opposite faces,

bordered by marginal strips, one of said strips extending beyond theother end of said slab opposite said bentaway end section, and having atransversely extending pin removably engagedin the bone in said block.

2. A magnetic holding device comprising a block of magnetic materialhaving a pair of opposite end faces, a plurality of side faces Withcentral grooves, and a bore transverse rto said end faces, and anelongate slab having central, longitudinal grooves in opposite faces andhaving a section adjacent one end bent away from the plane of the slab,a leg extending longitudinally from the other end of said slab, and apin extending transversely from said leg, and removably engaged in thebore in said block.

3. A magnetic, holding device comprising an elongate,

flat: slab of magnetic material, having an oblong, gen- 15 3,005,458

erally rectangular section and having a section adjacent one end bentaway from the plane of the slab, said slab having central,longitudinally disposed channels in its opposite faces, and having acorner notch bordered by marginal strips, one of said strips extendingbeyond the other end of said slab opposite said bent-away end section,and having a transversely extending pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,932,143 Piercy Q. Oct. 24, 1933 2,449,255 Sneckner Sept. 14, 194-82,975,497 Budreck Mar. 21, 1961 Brook et a1. Oct. 24, 1961

1. A MAGNETIC, HOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOCK OF MAGNETIC MATERIALHAVING PARALLEL END FACES, AND A POLYGONAL CROSS SECTION WITH SIDE FACESPERPENDICULAR TO SAID END FACES, SAID SIDE FACES HAVING COMMUNICATINGCENTRAL GROOVES, AND SAID BLOCK HAVING A CENTRAL BORE, PERPENDICULAR TOSAID END FACES, AND AN ELONGATE, FLAT SLAB OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, HAVINGAN OBLONG, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A SECTIONADJACENT ONE END BENT AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE SLAB, SAID SLAB HAVINGCENTRAL, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED CHANNELS IN ITS OPPOSITE FACES,BORDERED BY MARGINAL STRIPS, ONE OF SAID STRIPS EXTENDING BEYOND THEOTHER END OF SAID SLAB OPPOSITE SAID BENT-